I just recently made my first trip to Taco Express. What a crazy, cool, fun place! A friend and I went on a Sunday afternoon. They had a great live band playing outside . . . some kind of gospel/hippie/soul fusion. There was a crowd of what must have once been authentic 70's flower children off to the side dancing like it was still the Age of Aquarius. It was definitely a sight to behold . . . gotta give 'em props though, they looked like they were having a great time and they were quite entertaining! Oh . . and the FOOD!!! YUM!! We both had the Crispy Taco plates. They were filled with what I can only call Beef Stew . . . SOO good. Portions are very generous and totally delicious!! I will definitely go back!! read more

Started off giving them a 3 star review because the food was on par with Taco Cabana but the atmosphere and service was decent. Then I found a hair in my food....whatever, it happens Then.......I god d#### mouse ran by our table followed by a hungry cat. Theeeeennnn.....I was left hanging as the cat only batted the mouse around and didn't go for the kill. read more

Turns out this place is dog-friendly. Booom! My new thing. Sundays Hippie Church: Arrive before 11 to get your talking and eating in before the music starts, then you can dance it off when the gospel starts! LUV this place! The veggie enchilada plate was so big I literally made 3 small meals out of it when I got a to-go box! Can't beat the Central American vibe of this place. read more

The breakfast tacos here are the perfect combination of simple and tasty. I love ordering the ham, egg, and potato. This sounds silly but the ham and potatoes are cut proportionally too. I also really like that they offer 100% corn tortillas or the option of their homemade corn tortillas and even tell you what percentage of flour is in those. Super friendly and love the quirky environment! read more

Years ago, I ate at Taco Xpress and thought it was great. I saw Guy Fieri visit them and was thrilled for the success of a beloved Austin eatery. Visited on a trip to Austin last weekend and was incredibly disappointed. Absolutely disgusting. The queso was not terrible, and was a reasonable size. The picadillo and carne guisada were ok, but not good enough to go back for. The al pastor taco was so dry I am convinced it had sat on the counter overnight before they served it to us. The barbacoa taco was so vile that I very nearly spat it across our table. It was absolutely the worst taco my husband or I have ever had. (Yes, I had a bite even after he said it was disgusting). I really hope we just chose a really bad day to go... Nothing could make me go back to Taco Xpress... read more

I had never heard of this place as a visitor to Austin, but the paper machete Maria with her arms welcoming me brought me in. The decor is like a Mexican TGI Fridays on Acid with a nice outdoor sitting area and sweet indoor dankness deserving of a place of this caliber. The menu was a little confusing to me, but after having it explained I felt like an idiot. Just stick with a plate or a taco. The breakfast taco's are cheap and filling, but not as good as the rest of their plates. Good horchada and easy parking make this a great lunch stop, and it looks like it could go off at night. read more

I love taco xpress. I've be going there for years. I love there breakfast tacos they're so awesome. I love the cheese they use just pure gold . This is a great local land mark of old Austin. I also like now that they have started taking credit cards now. I like they verde taco it just green goodness. This place is local and makes me love being here in 78704. read more

There should be some sort of button or graphic for Austin Landmarks on this site, because Maria's is definitely that. For most Austinites, when they think taco, they think Maria's. The food is cheap & delicious! Lots of great patio seating that allows your dog hang with you. And often there is some great live music out there. It can get pretty crowded, but they are ready for it. The last time I was there (2 days ago!) there was a girl who greeted us when we walked in to take our order. This kept things moving along and it didn't take long to get our tacos. We are all so happy that the new Walgreen's didn't push this place out of business. read more

Not sure why they have tables that wobble and and instead of one nice sized table they have two tables put together. We do love their tacos and the update to the decor has been nice I like the newly painted white walls I don't like the new hours they have I think they close at 3pm for the rest of the day / night that's silly with a place this popular maybe that'll change. Please get new tables and remodel the stairs and second story patio it's really falling apart to the point it's becoming dangerous read more

I've been here 3 times, and I have to say that I've been happy with the food all 3 times. Nothing blew me away. The Migas Taco is average to above average, as were the other variations of the breakfast tacos I tried. The carne guisada taco was soft and juicy, noting that it was probably my favorite thing that I had there. What has put me off about this place is that every time I've been there, I have felt a little stressed out. People say how Austin it is, but there was nothing laid back about this place to me. Having 15 people smack into you while waiting in line, or having no choice but to smack into people to get your food to your table is just too much for me that early in the morning. Some places in town carry that swager that you'll do things however they want, or don't eat here, where on some strange level, it works. Between the lines, the crowds, the kids (I mean that in the best way, really), the noise, the no credit cards (or so I recall, noting other disagree), the dirty tables outside, or the semi-rude staff, Taco Xpress just didn't seem worth it to me. read more

Have you ever been to Mexico? Well, I have and this little spot made me feel like I was back there!! I love it! The dirt patio, with crap hanging all over, the small little cafe with a bunch more crap in it. Super friendly staff cooking up the BEST breakfast tacos I have had so far in Austin.....ah,.. good times. I love that you can bring your dog and sit out in the patio. They have love music on Sundays which is always nice. And the tacos are CHEAP!!!! Love it! read more

I have two roommates. One thinks this place is way overrated/overpriced but likes the decorations. The other loves it and could care less about the decorations. Both think the other one is out of his mind when it comes to Taco Xpress. I've had taco's there that were flavorless (Guisado) tacos that were tasty (Pastor) and taco's that were drowning in so much cheese they were nearly inedible. I've gone up and down on the meter with this place. At the end of the day, I am spoiled for choice in Austin. Too many places that are better, cheaper, AND less crowded. read more

Yikes.... Maria's Taco Express broke my streak of high ratings! My partner and I ended up here for a spontaneous Friday dinner after a run around Lady Bird Lake... Boy was that a MISTAKE! This is the only mexican food place in town that I have had to PAY for chips and salsa... and then we didn't even GET them! We ordered a pastor taco each, a chicken fajita taco and a crispy beef taco... here's how they were... - the pastor had okay flavor, but was very tough and the pieces were large. - the chicken fajita taco was bland and again, the meat was tough - the crispy beef taco was... wait for it... A GROCERY STORE HEAT IN THE OVEN TACO SHELL (you know, like "ortega") ... and yes... bland. They do have one smoked chile pepper sauce that was good and hot, and their roasted chile pepper sauce had good flavor... But they weren't flavorful enough to fix the tacos. We also ordered a Modelo Especial (they didn't give a glass or salt... just stuck a hard, juiceless lime in the can) and a frozen mango margarita... the margarita was okay, and the beer was good - once we tipped the outside bartender to give us a salted rim glass! I will never understand the draw of this place......... Nor will I return to try to figure it out. read more

Well, it's not like this place needs another good review. But here I go anyway. I'm in love with their vegetarian tacos! Any other place could combine rice and black beans in a warm corn tortilla and I'd be stoked about them too. But next to Las Manitas, Maria's has some of the best vegetarian tacos around. I like that their's doesn't come with cheese though. The salsa is fantastic. I'd buy it in bulk if I could. Maybe I can. Hmmm... The queso is also a favorite, although I try to avoid the stuff. I'm trying to lose some of the weight. It has a nice cheddar-y flavor that you don't taste often in this age of processed cheese product. Finding sliced jalapenos in the bottom of the bowl is like finding extra cherries in your cherry limade. Mix some of the salsa in for an extra kick. I've tried their migas tacos after hearing rave reviews, but I'm not a fan. The eggs are overly cooked, making them chewy. They're almost a chewy omelet consistency wrapped in a tortilla. The seating is also a little hard to come by on cold nights when everyone passes on the patio seating. I noticed they have trivia on Tuesday nights. It didn't seem quite as official or lively as some of the other live trivia around town, but still cool. read more

Amazing tacos with a really cool atmosphere. I was in Austin for 4 days, I visited Maria's twice. I first went on a Sunday morning - the line was out the door, but moved quickly. Went back Monday morning with no line. Both times were awesome. Go. You won't be disappointed. read more

Expecting hippie church although it was canceled because it was cold. The food was excellent for breakfast tacos and queso everywhere. I don't think they had coffee though. read more

Maria's is One Funky Taco Joint! I like the Barbacoa Tacos w/ rice & beans & a side of avocado's...Hubby likes the Chicken Gorditas w/ rice & beans....Daughter , the Soft Chicken Taco's....her Fiance', the Chicken Enchiladas w/ rice & beans. The food is flavorful......the menu is Simple.....the Servings are HUGE......the Prices are Low......the Atmosphere Really Cool ! Maria's is a Fun FAST FOOD Taco restaurant ! If you're in the mood for Tacos, at a "Nothin' Fancy" hole in the wall place , Maria's won't disappoint....it's a Yummy , Laid Back , Artsy Eclectic "Taco Experience". read more

WOOOHOOOO! Best compromise between cheap, fast, filling, and good for your breakfast taco buck, hands down! Come for the creepy sculpture on the roof, stay for the great tacos and cheap plates. read more

I've attempted to give Taco Xpress a few tries due to the rave reviews.Each time I'm disappointed in the qaulity , price, and service. - Quality: It could just be me , but during non-peak times (which are one I usually go due to the lines ) the food tastes pre-cooked. Like they had it from earlier and are just heating it back up . -Price: Their is a sign in the front that says Cheap Eats , yet for 2 people it costs 30 dollars to eat here. Compared to other local competition, that is anything but cheap (average in my opinion for Lamar is around 20 for 2 people with 2 x tacos each and 1 x guac and chips) . Also if you order the guacamole it comes in a small 3 oz serving cup and costs over a dollar for it . -Service: Due to it being on a few cooking channels , people tend to flock to this place while in town so the line gets overly long. Though they can't help that, I find that they seem to run with a very lean crew. Hire a few more workers or think about expanding as you obviously have the demand for it. I do not recommend going here for Saturday or Sunday breakfast as you will be waiting for some time. I think overall I like the idea of Taco Xpress more then the reality and that has me keep coming back in an attempt to fall in love with it. Unfortunately they just can't seem to pull it together , so for now I will be sticking with the other nearby taco places like Papalotes read more

YES, YES, and YES (at least on Sunday). One of the distinctive features of Austin culinary and leisure culture is the gospel brunch -- A delicious late morning feast accompanied by the soulful sounds of rhythm and blues. Another distinctive feature is the city's quirky, eclecticness (keep Austin weird, ya know). The Sunday hippy church at Taco Xpress manages to combine both of these winning qualities into one. With pretty good food to boot. I only had the Migas breakfast taco, but they went heavy on the jalapeños, which I like. Not to mention it's a Tex-Mex place started by an Argentine woman who has a giant, waist up statute of herself outside her establishment welcoming customers with open arms. It's Eva Peron meets meet stuffed flour tortillas! read more

Feel very comfortable stating that the migas taco is the best breakfast taco in Austin. We arrived just after 9am on a sunday and waited maybe five minutes. (but the peeps in from of us had been there a half hour? maybe people come in waves...then again the place doesnt open until 10?) Worth noting you have to figure out what you want before you get to the head of the line - grab one of the menus lying around. I can imagine the line is always out the door here, but man do they have a system down in there! We did the math and I believe they cranked out 100 orders a hour!? Nuts. Part of the system is what makes the migas taco so good. They cook the eggs and combine the other goodies all together in patties (sounds weird, but clutch, i'll get to that in a second). They throw the tortillas down on the grill (there is NOTHING like a tortilla hot off the press, ah) right next to it. Then they scoop up the fresh egg goodness and plop it in the tortilla. The best part is, all the goodies are there but shit isnt falling out both sides when you try to eat it. Brilliant! I also had the al pastor taco on recommnedation and it was simple and yum. a little greasy for my taste, but if you were hungover it would be perfect. Served on that same grilled tortilla....soooo good. Glad we got there early to get seat and all, but we missed the Gospel music. Starts at noon. Bummer. The setting here is so Austin...you cant miss it from the outside. Huge patio (dog friendly), interesting decor inside. Note the womens restroom here looks like a mix of Laurel Engles and the movie Saw. I think its the lighting that makes it fee like a horror movie. Frightening... Will be back asap. read more

The chorizo plus egg plus whatever breakfast taco is probably the best breakfast taco I've had. The ham plus egg taco is great as well; I really like how they cut their ham thick. I'm not sure I've had a better or more consistent breakfast taco in Austin (or San Antonio, gasp). The breakfast gordita was less than exciting, however. It came off dry and bland. The dinner and lunch options are a bit less spectacular, but still solid. The loca Maria burrito is really quite great; it's a huge helping of rice and refried beans plus chicken or beef and some other deliciousness. It's certainly sufficient to fill you up and has a nice fusion of flavor. read more

Being from California and not being a huge fan of the Tex-Mex, I was surprised to find an eatery such as Taco X Press in my very neighborhood. Less Tex-Mex and more Mex, I've enjoyed everything I've every tried here. Plus, if you come in enough the folks there get to know you and you start to feel like family! read more

Hangover Cure= Taco Express I miss you Loca Maria!!!!!!!!! read more

Food is AWESOME - especially the nachos but downfall is the prices are a tad bit on the high side. They serve breakfast all day long. Staff is very outgoing and friendly. Patio with live music is A+ Live Music on the weekends. read more

The prices were good for the huge servings they add to each taco. It's a good thing they give you two tortillas per taco. So if you are not super hungry, or are on a budget, you can make two decent size tacos for the price of one. I personally recommend the rich flavors of Pollo guisado, Picadillo, and Barbacoa. The agua de piña is very tasty and not super sweet. Very tasty. Love the fact that you can have as many refills as you want. read more

This place is an Austin institution. The food here is AMAZING. Easily the best Al Pastor tacos in town, but literally everything on the menu is fantastic. And trust me, I don't say that lightly. The staff is super friendly and awesome and the place just has a great vibe in general. One thing you should not miss is Hippie Church on Sundays...I'd recommend getting there a little early because the place gets packed but it is always a great time! Bring the kids, dog, all your friends and get ready to have a good time! (And don't be intimidated if the line is long--it moves fast and is well worth the short wait!) read more

I have only been here for breakfast and Sunday Brunch for "Hippie Church". The reason I go here is because of the fun atmosphere on Sundays. They have live hippie gospel music and everyone dances around like there's not a care in the world. It's carefree and fun. I eat the breakfast tacos every time and I don't think there is anything special about them. They are always busy when I go and there is very little parking. Don't park at Walgreens unless you want to take your chances getting towed. If you are looking for a fun atmosphere, this is the place... If you are looking to impress someone with great Mexican food, I can think of a dozen other options. read more

What can you say? It's breakfast tacos. And the best breakfast tacos in town. Well, the migas tacos are the best breakfast tacos in town. I can't speak for any of the other tacos since I ate one of these I have never had another type of breakfast taco. The pollo guisado tace is great for lunch. If you want "brunch" have one migas taco and one pollo guisado taco. You will be very happy. Especially if you like pico like I do---cover your tacos in pico and ENJOY. Careful on sunday after breakfast time---you might end up at Hippy Church. I'[m just saying this is you don't know what "What would Champ do" means, you might not find it that appealing. Or be able to find a parking spot. Well run---and I like that! read more

We were looking at funky places to eat while we were in Austin and with this restaurant we definitely found funky. From the outside, this is what you see when you look up Austin, TX in the dictionary. Crazy colorful decor and don't forget the large woman statue coming out of the roof. After all off the visual distractions, it was time to eat. Since I read many of the reviews and watched the "Diners Drive In's" episode I opted for the Pastor plate. The meat was perfectly seasoned and paired with the cilantro and salsas offered they were perfect. The added "plate" option of beans were not needed. Stick with the tacos only. My husband had the Migas tacos and even though they were good they were not "life changing" as stated in other reviews. The margaritas and queso were yummy...again nothing "life changing" but yummy all the same. This place is great for tourists and locals alike...we would go again for sure. read more

Maria's is definitely a funky, not your average environment sort of place, well except this is Austin so that is sort of the norm. I like Maria's but there are some draw backs like no table service. The place can get really super busy when they have events. Like standing room only busy. It's real pain in the bum to have to get up and go stand in line every time you want a drink or to order and get your food. However, It's fun place to go. The food is pretty good. Not a big fan of their margaritas (insert sad face for no likey ritas at a Mexican food place), but I love the $11.00 fajita salad. Sunday Hippie Church there is a must experience. I've only caught the tail end of one and I definitely want more. The Big Boobie Bingo night is hilarious. Basically this is an Austin Institution and that alone makes it worth it. You are not a S. Austinite if you haven't eaten at Maria's. read more

A cool place to go for breakfast. First visit here I had the Huevos Rancheros which was ok but I loved the potatoes and different salsas you can add to your meal. I enjoyed the staff and vibe of the restaurant that I had to return the following day to try the tacos lol. I might make it a habit to stop in here for a couple tacos while running errands. The service has been fast and food is very filling! The inside is a little cramped in my opinion so I like to sit outside. There is lots of shaded seating and interesting decor to view. read more

Taco Xpress - Huevos Rancheros - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Austin, Texas

I am so glad Maria expanded into a larger space! Since, all you Yelpers have made this the place to be for cheapo Mex. FYI Rock Star Groupies - ACL will surely flood this place with poor Rock Stars looking for cheap eats!!!! Breakfast Tacos $1.40.. Chalupa $2.00.... several vegetarian tacos for $.2.00... The most expensive item on the menu is $6.25.... Eat here and fill your belly with cheap Mexican goodness then drink up and enjoy the rest of Austin Fun.... read more

This place made my friends living in North Austin jealous. It used to be part of my Saturday morning routine and one of the best things about living down south. The breakfast tacos really are tasty. I used to skip the eggs which I didn't feel added much to the tacos and went straight for the potato, bacon and cheese ones. They don't take cash and the wait can be long if you get there too late. There are a few seat inside, but I prefer the patio in the morning before it gets too hot. Parking can be a problem at times. Watch for Loca Maria (the owner) and say hi to her if you see her! God, I miss eating those tacos on Taco Xpress patio... How can something so simple be so damn good? read more

I'm a really big (almost obsessive) fan of their breakfast tacos, especially the migas or chorizo and egg but everything else is just okay-not bad and generally tastey, but often not worth the ridiculous lack of parking and wait time. The margarita's are small and a little on the bitter side, but beer prices aren't bad and their salsa is really tastey! All in all, I'd stop by for some hangover relieving breakfast tacos but don't stress yourself over anything else. read more

This place is odd, odd like Austin. If you have visitors in town, bring them there. On usual occasion, it may not be my pick for taco for several reasons. Went there during lunch few weeks ago and boy was the line long! After you ordered at the door you still have to wait at the cashier line to pay before you can sit down to chill. The whole logistics of the order system is just weird and inefficient. Because we were standing in line and having people walking pass us up and down and I was a little annoyed by the confusion. After paying for the order, we looked for a place to sit at the outdoor patio to enjoy some live music. The band and the crowd were pretty awesome. Seeing people in tie-dye shirt dancing in trance was rather entertaining, I wish I was less self conscious and join the fun. I had their breakfast taco (egg and chorizo) and picadillo chalupa, it was alright... the breakfast taco is overcooked. I have had better somewhere else. The chalupa was just too messy, not exactly like taco when it came out. Overall, it was a cool experience to dine there but I wouldn't go there for their tacos. read more

This was a special place back in the day for me, and it still is special. You have more room to order now, and you can eat in the a/c, but it still has pretty bomb migas and tasty tacos. It definitely seems a bit cleaner and friendly, but don't worry! There are still dancing hippies and plenty of rust to remind you what it was like read more

Taco Xpress is one of those places that really makes me love Austin! It's got it all! I think every time I've come here has been on a Sunday morningish, so it's always been a "party", haha! The atmosphere here on Sunday mornings for the Gospel Brunch is just too freakin' fun to describe! It blows my mind that there are sooo many people up, awake, and dancing and drinking to the live music! I live in Seattle, but frequent Austin, and wish there was a place with the vibe (and fantastic breakfast tacos) in Seattle. I can't think of anyplace that would be jumping on a Sunday morning and packed to the gills with people ready for food and fun so "early". It's usually the chips and queso to feed us until the rest of the food is ready and then the migas plates and/or (probably and) some extra tacos. Then, try to grab a seats out on the patio to kick back, enjoy the food and enjoy the live music and dancing! I do LOVE the breakfast tacos here! They are truly delish! This place is just good times... I never went to it before it got moved over by the drug store and condos next door, but the building feels like it's already been there for ages. The outdoor patio is large and perfect to relax out at. The casual nature and lively atmosphere equal fun with your food and there's heaps of interesting people inside. I love hitting up this spot for Sunday mornings whenever I'm up in Austin and always wish it was in Seattle, but I think it couldn't be the same there. It's also got the feel-good story of Maria Corbalan to inspire you to eat! read more

I've been coming here since they were where the Walgreens is, so you could say I'm an expert. Granted I admit to having only ever bought breakfast tacos. Maria, Fernando and their crew are amazingly consistent, fast, fresh, flavorful and economic. Prices have hardly changed at all in the 15 or so years I've known of them. Portions have stayed the same in that time too. I liked the old space, but let's be honest; the new space rocks too with a lot more seating and great outdoor space. Whether you want to just grab a couple tacos on the way to work, or get the full Sunday gospel brunch experience, you're never going to be disappointed. Plus it's hard to beat their salsa bar and the chimichurri sauce is to die for. If you don't know, just go. If you do know, go back (more often). read more

Hands-down the best breakfast tacos in town. I've tried them all! They also always have a great customer service, and an efficient to-go operation. read more